Display device



Dec. 6, 194:9

E. COLOMER R.

DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Nov. 23, 1945 INVENTQR EMILIO COLD/45A R.

ATT RNEY Patented Dec. 6, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

The invention relates to miniature display devices in which a flexible strip of paper, or the like, hearing printed matter or pictures is arranged to wind up in roll form within a small case.

An object of my invention is toprovide an improved tension rewind mechanism for devices of the character described.

Another object is to provide improvements in the construction of the case and other elements of such devices whereby assembly is facilitated, the number of necessary parts reduced and their design simplified, and whereby the appearance of the finished article is enhanced by novel cooperation between the case and the operating parts.

A still further object is to provide improved means for creating and adjusting initial tension of the rewind mechanism.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear as the description proceeds. In the drawings:

Fig. l is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of a display device embodying the novel features of my invention in one of its preferred forms,

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken as indicated at 2--2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional View of the upper part of the device shown in Fig. 1, illustrating the cooperative engagement between the spindle and cap.

Fig. 4 is a detail section taken at 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view of a modified form of stop member for the end of the strip.

In the preferred embodiment I have illustrated by way of example, the case of the device is made in the form of a miniature bottle, and the cap which holds in place one end of the winding spindle is made in the form of the cork of the bottle. It will be understood, however, that the case may assume any one of an almost infinite variety of forms such as a miniature replica of miniature of the product being advertised. For

example, a distiller may have the device made identified with his product. Also, the miniature reproduction may of course be decorated with .small scale facsimiles of the distillers label, tax

and importers stamps, etc.

In its general arrangement, my improved display device comprises a case it, a hollow spindle l l to which is secured the flexible strip l2, a tension unwind and rewind elastic band it extending through the hollow spindle, and a removable cap [4 which fits over one end of the spindle .to

hold it assembled with the case and also serves to compress the end, or ends, of the elastic band between the cap and spindle, thus anchoring the band to one end of the spindle. The other end of the elastic band is anchored to th removable base member I5, which preferably has a frictional engagement with the adjacent portion'of the case Ill, and is of cylindrical or frusto-conical form so as to be rotatable about theaxis of the spindle upon the application of sufiicient torque to overcome the friction. This provides for adjustment of the'initial rewind tension to insure that the strip l2 will be completely wound on the spindle with enough tension to spare so that the stop member [6 at the outermost end of the strip will be snugly drawn against the case or into the flush seat provided by the slot l1 thereof. The base member I5 is provided with a pair of apertures I8 for elastic band I3. A depression 19 in the outside of the base adjacent these apertures permits the end of the band to be drawn into a position inside of the outer surface of the base thus leavin the base smooth and free of projections. I

A cylindrical-or frusto-conical recess 20 in the cap it snugly fits over the similarly shaped end of spindle II frictionally to'hold the two membars in assembledrelation. A groove, or grooves, 2!, formed in at least one of the meetin faces of the spindle and'cap members receive the ends of the elastic band l3. Preferably the bandis circular in cross-section, and the depth of grooves 2i is made somewhat less than the diameter of the band. Thus upon application of cap [4 to the spindle the band is compressed, firmly anchoring it to the spindle and assisting in retention of the cap in its locking position on the spindle. The provision of grooves 2| make it possiblef'to have the recess 2|] of substantially the same size 'as the end of the spindle for frictional engagement therewith, and maintains proper aligmnent of the parts. Spindle II is arranged to extend through an aperture 22 in the upper end of the case and to beheld in assembled relationship therewith by means of'applying the cap it as described.

The side of'case I0 is slotted longitudinally'as at 23. This slot preferably is arranged tangentially to the mean diameter of the strip roll, and is tapered outwardly as at 24 so that the stop member 16 seats within the slot to present a flush surface at the outside of the case when the strip I2 is fully wound.

Assembling of theparts is performed as follows: The strip 12 is secured'at its inner end to the hollow spindlel l,'as by gluing or clipping it thereto. The strip is wound up on the spindle except for an inch or so which is left unwound. Thespindle with its rolled strip is slid into the case with the outer endof the strip projecting through slot 23.- The ends of the elastic band 3 are threaded through the holes in the base l5 and are then dropped through the center of the hollow spindle. The end of the spindle will now be projecting beyond the end of the case, and the elastic rband' will be proiecthrg'zbeyond .the end of thespindle. 'Gra'sping the projectingends of the band and pulling the spindle out as far as it will go, any excess length of the bandiis trimmed off and the free ends turned back.along the outside of the spindle in position to be engaged by the grooves 2| of caprM. .fioldingzthe ends of the band so, the cap is pushed into place on the end of the spindle'asshown 'inFig; 3.

Next the base member I5 is seated lightlyin the opposite end of the-case and is turned back- ;wards. until ,the stop .member .lliilsr drawn. firmly .Jinto the ,slotIZ3. iThenlthe .baseiispnshed Tfirmly .linto "the end of .the case to lock 'itirictionall-y ragainstrfurther turning. 'The base. may be .pro- .vided. with a pair of recesses =,for engagement :by a key foreffecting .the .describeduadinstment :nf:-the.initial tension. of -.the=rewind band, or with rather suitable means .ior conveniently stunning ethe base against -the iirictional rresistancelofrits engagement with the case.

To facilitate ,withdrawalmi'thevband, thersides 20f the vslot 23 may .be ,provided with .thumbsnotches 2fi,-.permitting=.the userrtoggrasp convenfiently thestop -l6storpull it-out of theslot.

The, parts ofzmytdevice maybe fashioned from *a-ny suit-able xmaterials such as :metal, ,plastic resins, rubber, wood, paper, etc. The strip l2 :mzay conveniently :be made of tough paper :or .linen, and may Fountain.- any desired representawtions in words tor picturea preferably arranged :in serial iform so [as itoqtell :a complete story. r ma-y be an advertising skit, stra-vel story, comic, or whatever may be desired. .Thwelastic rband may lie-made rofirnbber or {other available imat'erials.

:In theimodifiedrconstructioniillnstratedeinrFig. Kin-the rstopimember iszmaderofiazmetal strip r211 :the ends 28 ::of Which rare adapted to be :sprung sapartxto :receive 25112331111 of therstrip :tjZ :between :them. The .strip imay vbe llocked in. ,place :by 7

ipimchin'gdn 1a sectionrof ztheaends 28, '01 ;one ;of 'rthem,zasiindicatedratezfi. EStopzmember :tfi .(Eig. 1 2) may be:madezdfwoodro'mplastic resinsintma +sl'ot -of which ;isl'glued,17r :othenwise secured, the rend of strip :12.

The terms and expressions which Il haveremlployedsare rusedsin a idescriptiverarrd :nut;a ilimitling :sense, and vl1 rhave :arro. intention :of excluding such equivalentsrofftheiinxentlon described, oraof portions thereof, iiall .within "the :pnrview aof th'e claims.

?I "claim:

1. A ':miniature display :device comprising :a :hollow spindle, a f'flexible strip :secured to :the

spindle for winding thereon in roll formgascase arranged torenclose the rolledstrip andsa tension unw'ind and :rewind compri'singgan relasticx 'rband extending through the iiIOHOWI-Slllhdlfi, Lthe ease rcomprising' a sleeve-likezmemberrhavingrnnerend :aperturedi-for therspnrdlezandmzremovablezzmem- :65

Fber at the (other rend 2 for insertion 10f tthe milled strip, the spindle projecting .thronehmilizaper- -,tured end "of $118 isleevfillliei member, xthe selasticband; arramgedito heanchorediat'onerend rto-said removablezmember andeat gthe rotherrend sto'extend :through .thegprojecting part 10f wthe rspindle for :anchorage thereto '2 exteriorly :zoi esaid case.

:2. miniature :display device tcemprising ea ihollow wspindle, a flexible-sstripesecnxedstotthe spindle for winding thereon in roll form, a case arranged to enclose the rolled strip, and a tension unwind and rewind comprising an elastic band extending through the hollow spindle, the :case 'compri'singra sleeve-likemernberihaving one end apertured for the spindle and 'a-removable member at the other end for insertion of the rolled strip, and the elastic band arranged to extend beyond the end of the spindle to be "anchored at one end to said removable member .andcatzthe 'otherend to the spindle, the removable member being adjustable about the axis of the 'spindleto wind partially the rubber band for creating initial rewind tension.

3. A miniature display device comprising a ho1low..spindle, a.removable-.cap-for .one end of .the spind1e,,a. flexiblestrip securedto thespindle for windinglthereon'inroll form acase arranged to enclose "the rolledistrinrand atension unwind andrewind. comprising an, elastic bandrextending through .the hollowspindle, the. elastic bandnarranged to be anchored at .one "end to the case randat therother lend to the spindle, the -.-anchorage etc a thespindle .b eing provided bycompressirlg the end of the band between the-spindle rand ithe-rcepr 4. A miniature display .device comprising :a hollow spindle, .a .flexible strip secured to the .spindle for winding thereon inrollform acase arranged to enclose the rolled strip, and a [ten- .-sion .unwind and ,rewind comprising an -.elastic .band extending through the ;hol1ow,spindle, .the case comprising a sleeveelikemember havingone send. apertured tor the spindle and ,a removable vmember .at the other :end .for insertion (of the rolled strip, and the elastic band arranged-tome Zanchored at oneend to said-removable ,-.member and atthe. other end .toLthe spindle the-removable member :having va ifrictional engagement with thesleeve-like .case memberior adjustment about the axis of the spindle to-wind partially theirubrberband for creatingfiinitial rewindtension.

I5. -.A,miniaturerdisplay deviceoomnrising. aihol- "low: spindle, a. removable pap for tone rendrof the spindle, a flexible strip secured to therspindle for :-winding thereon inrroll-iorm ,aa: case; arranged ".110 enclose thelrolled .strip, .-and a tension aunwind and rewind comprisin g an elastic band "exttending; thro ugh the hollowspindlefl theremovable spindle cap havingx a recess arranged :.to .receive ,the ,end'of the spindle, .a (groove .in r at least one .of the meetinglfaces ofsthespindle andcapmem- -.bers, the elastic band :arranged to be anchored .-at one +end to the :case. and at the other end all!) the-spindle, :the anchorage rto r-the :spindle being gprovided by .iastening rthe end .of :the band in said ,groove.

EMILI=2OLOMER R.

:REEERENCES :CITED .HNITED-ZSEIATES. TS

.r391 ,313 Geoffrion s trzdrszi 235L822 Bauterbac'h June20,1'944 FORlElIGN" PATENTS .Number Country Date 12,084 France iJ.u1y\ 24, 1926 

